DETAILS

Curacao

GETTING THERE: American Airlines is offering a summer round-trip fare of $651 from Washington, via Miami, with restrictions; the special runs from June 21 to Sept. 2. From Miami it's a 2 1/2 -hour hop to Curacao's Hato International Airport. Morning flights get you there in time for a late afternoon dip in the ocean. Another option is to combine airlines; United flies nonstop from Dulles to Miami, for instance, for $184; from there you can pick up an American flight for $479, for a total airfare of $663.

WHERE TO STAY: The Hotel Kura Hulanda (8 Langestraat, 877-264-3106, http://www.kurahulanda.com/ ; doubles from $169), in the Punda neighborhood of Willemstad, has spacious, individually styled rooms, good service and a lot of extras: two pools, a spa, a health club and a couple of great restaurants. It is not on the beach, but it has access to a nearby beach and provides free shuttle service. A sister property, the Kura Hulanda Lodge and Beach Club (877-264-3106; doubles from $159), is on a beach in Westpunt, about 30 minutes from downtown Willemstad, and guests can divide their time between them.

The Curacao Marriott Beach Resort (800-228-9290, http://www.marriott.com/ ), on a lovely beach, has a drop-dead lobby and brightly decorated rooms. The property is home to a casino and a couple of good restaurants. Doubles start at $149.

The Trupial Inn (011-5999-737-8200, http://www.trupialinn.com/ ), a motel-style property with well-appointed rooms, a casino and a pool, is a 10-minute drive from downtown or the beach, but a free shuttle takes guests to both. Doubles start at $90.

WHERE TO EAT: The Marshe Bieuw or Old Market (011-5999-461-1170), on De Ruyterkade in Willemstad, is where locals flock for down-home cooking at lunchtime. Vendors offer goat stew, fresh fish and other Curacao specialties. A lunch platter with a soft drink goes for about $9.

The Astrolab Observatory Restaurant (8 Langestraat, 011-5999-434-7700), on the grounds of the Hotel Kura Hulanda, features continental cuisine in a posh setting. The fresh lobster and grilled fish are specialties. With entrees averaging around $30, it's a special-occasion kind of place.

Jaanchie's Restaurant (15 Westpunt, 011-5999-864-0126), in a pretty oceanside village 30 minutes from downtown, is a good place to drop in before or after the beach. The owner is a local character. The fresh fish and iguana soup are highly recommended; lunch for two runs around $40.

WHAT TO DO: Den Paradera (105A Seru Grandi Kavel, Banda Riba, 011-5999-767-5608) is a delightful garden of medicinal plants about 20 minutes from downtown. Owner Dinah Veeris prescribes herbal cures for every ailment. Admission (by appointment only) is $4, $6 for a guided tour.

Blues (in the Avila Beach Hotel, 130 Penstraat, 800-747-8162) is a cool jazz joint with a warm crowd and first-rate music. Live performances Thursday and Sunday nights.

The Museum Kura Hulanda (in the hotel of the same name; see above) offers an impressive, quick education on the history of slavery. Admission is $6.

INFORMATION: Curacao Tourist Board , 800-328-7222, http://www.curacao.com/ .

-- Gary Lee